Boerenroem blog

// July 24th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // family, pictures

Sara turned 8 last Friday. Isn’t she lovely?

// April 10th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // pictures

These are special days: the trees near the entry roads into Almere are in full blossom. I took my bike and shot a few pictures. Click below for the first 8, click here for the entire set.

// March 19th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // fun, pictures

Ongelofelijk maar waar: ik heb een fotowedstrijd gewonnen. Het kostte even tijd om ‘m in te lijsten, maar hier is’tie dan: de Putjesperspectief wisseltrofee! Het was een ex aequo met Jaco Kazius, wat ik gezien diens artistieke kwaliteiten als een groot compliment beschouw… De winnende foto publiceerde ik onlangs al hier en is ook hier te zien bij Paul Abspoel, de bedenker en grote inspirator achter het Putjesperspectief.  Ik voel me zeer vereerd met deze prijs en daarom hangt ‘ie dan ook trots aan deze digitale muur.

Natuurlijk moeten we de zaken wel in perspectief blijven zien. Putjesperspectief, dus. De ironie druipt uit Paul’s omschrijving: een ‘spuuglelijk en potsierlijke’ prijs, een ‘laag bij-de-grondse locatie’, en ik word weggezet als een ‘fotograaf van opmerkelijk laag niveau’. Om het af te maken hernoemt hij het artistieke werkje ‘Marks putje’ in plaats van het originele ‘Masada Mosaic’. Jammer dat hij het nodig heeft om collega-kunstenaars zo de grond in te stampen.

Ik was echter wel wat gewend. Een jaar of wat geleden won ik ook (bijna) een prijs: die van Mislukte Foto 2007. Ik blogde daar toen al over maar helaas is inmiddels niet alleen de foto maar ook de site zo mislukt dat de linkjes niet meer werken. Hier nog wel een linkje over die wedstrijd; in de comments staat een verwijzing naar mijn inzending (Willem en Maxima verborgen achter zwaaiende handen).

Met andere woorden: ik ken mijn plaats als het gaat om mijn fotografische kwaliteiten. Bedankt, Paul!

// March 5th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // pictures

This picture was chosen by Rob Haster to write a beautiful poem on (in Dutch). Thanks Rob, I feel honored by it. The poem is about the stones of the mosaic – each one made with love, but also made to be part of the whole. Read it and enjoy.

// January 1st, 2010 // 1 Comment » // pictures

We spent the afternoon in Nature Reserve Oostvaardersplassen, between Almere and Lelystad. It is a fairly large and very beautiful area, with lots of wildlife. Over the many visits we’ve spotted red stags, konikhorses, foxes, oxes, predators and many different bird species. There is even an eagle’s nest, but we have not seen them yet.

Today was exceptionally beautiful because of the snow and ice. We spotted many horses (some very close by) and deer. It was a good start of the year – enjoy the pictures here.

// December 21st, 2009 // No Comments » // (uncategorized), family, pictures

// January 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // family, pictures

Wow, what a wonderful weekend that was. The most perfect skating weather we’ve seen in many, many years, combined with perfect ice to skate on… And so did almost the entire country. The five of us took the skates and slide and went to the Oostvaardersplassen, a beautiful place nearby, where last week the official Dutch marathon was held. We made it exactly one round, but had much fun together. I’m really proud of Rosa and Sara, who skate very well and seem to enjoy it even more than we do.

This afternoon, after church, I took the girls to the ‘Weerwater’, the lake next to Almere’s city center. Again a wonderful spot where we had much fun with about 15 people from church. Some pictures are below, many more in the picture gallery.

// November 23rd, 2008 // No Comments » // pictures

// November 8th, 2008 // No Comments » // family, pictures

We made a walk through the Bosrandpark (Forestside Park), the park right behind our house. It is a nice area with a small section of ‘real forest’, where you actually walk between the trees and feel like you’re out in the countryside. Of course I took the camera to make some pictures. I managed to make some of the best shots so far. See below and check the rest in the gallery.

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// November 3rd, 2008 // 1 Comment » // pictures

My mom gave me a special present: a digital SLR camera. She has one herself, and every time we’re around I used to play a bit with it. So one day she suggested I got one myself… and there it came, last Friday. A wonderful thing, that needs a lot of attention to get the best out of it. I have been shooting all weekend, so take a look at the first fruits of the Canon 450D 18-55 IS kit. Thank you mom!!

// August 14th, 2008 // No Comments » // Agapè, pictures

Just received this picture of the Agapè student ministry team 2008-2009. The team has doubled this last year! I am as excited as they are about what is happening. The three people on the right (Arjan, Marianne and Leendert) will be sent out to the UK for a year of on-the-job training. Hannah (middle) and Maarten & Marianne just returned from the UK from different locations.

In the picture from left to right: Tiny Veltman, Renske Veltman, Henk Veltman, Matthijs van den Broek, Maarten Gast, Agnes van den Broek, Miranda Gast, Hannah Paauwe, Sieneke Ribberink, Dennis van den Broek, Egbert Ribberink with Jopke, Heiko van den Broek, Arjan Admiraal, Marianne and Leendert de Jong.

// September 17th, 2007 // No Comments » // fun, pictures

Added a new collection of pictures, randomly selected from my phone camera from the last couple of months. There is one picture of last Saturday, when we went to Baak for the opening of Baak Centre, the estate of Ellel Ministries. As I wrote sometime ago, God brought them to this place in a special way. It turned out not to be an easy way, as there were many hurdles to be taken. But now it is legally owned by Ellel, and so they threw a party for the opening. It is special to see how our long-term friends Peter and Johan are now leading this ministry. On the picture you see Tomas (in the red shirt) exploring the basket with twelve white doves.

// March 30th, 2007 // No Comments » // pictures, travel

I uploaded a couple of pictures of Riga to Flickr – check them out!